Suppose a resident prefers to do the Brief Interview for Mental Status in writing. Will that approach pass muster with CMS? Answer: The RAI User's Manual notes that "when staff identify that the resident's primary method of communication is in written format, the BIMS can be administered in writing. The administration of the BIMS in writing should be limited to this circumstance," states the manual. "See Appendix E for details regarding how to administer the BIMS in writing."